Annual Report FWCP Coastal Region 2016-2017

The FWCP is a partnership between BC Hydro, the Province of B.C., Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations and Public Stakeholders to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife impacted by existing BC Hydro dams. Message from the Board Chair

Welcome to our Annual Report for 2016-17. This plain language document These new initiatives are in addition to managing delivery of the 41 fish reports on key highlights, decisions and expenditures between April 1, 2016 and wildlife projects approved by our Coastal Region Board. The 18 wildlife and March 31, 2017, for our Coastal Region. Annual Reports for the other and 23 fish projects represent a total investment this fiscal year of over $2 two regions, Columbia and Peace, which make up the Fish and Wildlife million. Species and habitat-based actions are the focus for the majority Compensation Program (FWCP), are also available at fwcp.ca. of projects approved by the Board, most of which are delivered by non- government organizations or First Nations, and are spread across the Our Coastal Region includes watersheds on , in the Lower watersheds in which we work. Mainland, Southern Interior, and the Mainland Coast, where BC Hydro generation facilities exist. In total, 14 watersheds in some of the most Thanks to all members of the Board, Fish and Wildlife Technical densely populated portions of B.C. comprise our Coastal Region. Our work Committees, and staff for contributions to the FWCP Coastal Region during in this region is voluntarily funded by BC Hydro, which operates 14 dams this past year, and for helping to make FWCP a success. The FWCP Coastal across our Coastal Region. Region continues to evolve and I look forward to finalizing the updated Action Plans in the new year to ultimately support our vision of thriving fish Our work in this region is guided by a diverse nine-member Board that and wildlife populations in healthy and sustainable ecosystems. includes our partners: First Nations, the Province of B.C., Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Public Stakeholders, and BC Hydro. Together, we work to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife impacted by BC Hydro dams. The Sincerely, Board is responsible for all funding decisions and provides oversight on our activities in each watershed. Brian Assu, FWCP Coastal Region Chair In 2016-17, a focus of the Program was on updating our Action Plans across 14 watersheds in which we operate. Activities were initiated early in the year with research, interviews, and engagement across a number of Coastal Communities occurring into the fall. Updating and refining 41 strategic planning documents into 14 documents took a big collective effort including the FWCP team, technical committees, and the Coastal Board. The Action Plans are scheduled to be completed and posted by September 2017.

Front Cover: The FWCP started live-streaming images of a captive breeding pair of Northern Spotted Owls during F17. Photo: L. Ware

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 2 1.0 Organizational overview INTRODUCTION

The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) was established to As identified in the map below, the Coastal Region includes compensate for the impacts resulting from the construction of BC Hydro 14 watersheds on Vancouver Island, the Mainland Coast, the Lower dams by conserving and enhancing fish and wildlife in the Coastal, Mainland, and parts of the Southern Interior (e.g. Bridge, Seton Columbia and Peace regions of . FWCP operates as and Shuswap River watersheds). a partnership between BC Hydro, the Province of B.C., Fisheries and This Annual Report provides an overview of the activities and a financial Oceans Canada (DFO), First Nations, and Public Stakeholders. performance report, as well as a project funding summary with We have invested more than $151 million since 1988, and delivered highlights from the Fiscal Year 2017 (F17) covering the period of April 1, nearly 1,750 projects in our three regions. 2016 to March 31, 2017.

Formerly known as the Bridge-Coastal Restoration Program, the FWCP’s Coastal Region was established in 1999. This voluntary initiative was developed in response to First Nations and stakeholder interests’ in addressing opportunities for restoration.

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 3 GOVERNANCE The FWCP’s governance recognizes the regulatory accountabilities of The Lower Mainland Fish Technical Committee: our agency partners—BC Hydro, the Province of B.C., and Fisheries and Randall Lewis, Squamish First Nation Oceans Canada— and enables partnership with First Nations and Public Veronica Woodruff, Public Stakeholders. Work in each region is guided by a local Board responsible for Dave Nanson, (Chair), Fisheries and Oceans Canada setting strategic priorities and approving annual expenditures, as well as our Mike Willcox, B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations investments in conservation and enhancement projects. Brent Wilson, BC Hydro

In the past year, the Coastal Region Board consisted of nine members The Southern Interior Fish Technical Committee: representing First Nations, Public Stakeholders, the Province of B.C., Elinor McGrath, Okanagan Nation Alliance Fisheries & Oceans Canada, and BC Hydro. We welcomed Todd Manning Brian Heise, Public as a new Public Stakeholder to replace long standing member Ken Sean Bennett, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Farquharson who retired from the Board in 2016. Andy Morris, B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Arne Langston, (Chair), BC Hydro The F17 Board Members were: Vancouver Island Technical Review Committee: First Nation Representatives: Jim Lane, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Brian Assu, (Chair), We Wai Kai Nation Eva Wichmann, (Chair), BC Hydro Larry Casper, Seton Lake Indian Band Mike McCulloch, B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Fran Genaille, Peters Band Operations Public Representatives: Margaret Wright, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Vivian Birch-Jones Darren Hebert, Public Todd Manning Wildlife Technical Review Committee: Jack Minard John Cooper, Public Agency Representatives: Fraser Corbould, BC Hydro Adam Silverstein, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Dr. Brent Gurd, (Chair), B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Scott Barrett, B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Operations Kim Cox, BC Hydro Prior to November 2016, the responsibilities of overall management of the FWCP and the management of the FWCP Coastal Region were delivered by The Board reports to the Policy Committee, representing the federal one individual, Trevor Oussoren. Since then a new management structure and provincial government regulators (DFO and the Province), as well as has been implemented with the hiring of a full-time dedicated Coastal BC Hydro. The Policy Committee exists to allow the agencies to provide Region Manager, Julie Fournier. Trevor has now been able to continue the oversight on a range of fish and wildlife related issues relevant to BC Hydro overall management of the FWCP in a full-time capacity. All three regions including, but not limited to, the FWCP. are supported by Business Coordinator, Lorraine Ens. The Policy Committee members were: • Edie Thome, Director of Environmental Risk Management, BC Hydro Karen Popoff replaced Edie Thome for BC Hydro part way through the year. • Kaaren Lewis, Assistant Deputy Minister, B.C. Ministry of Environment • Cheryl Webb, Regional Director Pacific Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Our Board is supported by four Technical Committees—one for wildlife projects, and three for fish projects (Lower Mainland, Southern Interior, and Vancouver Island). Their primary roles are to support the development of strategic plans; provide advice on the effective implementation of Action Plans; and provide fair and objective technical review, evaluation, and ranking of fish and wildlife project proposals for the Annual Operating Plan.

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 4 Our Coastal Region Board includes representatives from First Nations, the Province of B.C., BC Hydro, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Public Stakeholders.

2.0 FWCP strategic framework

Our strategic framework guides planning for compensation investments (i.e. fish and wildlife projects) and supports our vision.

VISION

Thriving fish and wildlife populations in watersheds that are functioning and sustainable.

An effective program will support the maintenance of healthy fish and wildlife populations in basins significantly altered by hydroelectric development. Actions taken should satisfy both the conservation and sustainable use objectives and, where possible, restore ecosystem function, making species more resilient to emerging pressures, such as climate change.

FWCP STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK Figure 2.1 • One Program Relationship between FWCP’s Strategic Framework, Vision • Common Vision & Policy Basin Strategic Plans and Action Plans. Principles • Three Basins Basin-level • Desired Future Strategic Plans Strategy Conditions

• Multiple Priorities Action Plans • Measurable Objectives, (for identified priorities) Action Coordinated Actions

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 5 3.0 FWCP strategic objectives and strategic plans

3.1 Strategic Objectives 3.2 Strategic Plans

The strategic objectives for the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program Fish and wildlife investments in each FWCP region are guided by Action reflect a synthesis of the core objectives and mandates of partner Plans that were developed with local input and provide strategic guidance. agencies as they relate to mitigating impacts associated with hydro-power In FWCP’s Coastal Region, Action Plans exist for each of the 14 watersheds generation in British Columbia: where FWCP operates. High-level watershed Plans set out the strategic direction for the Coastal Region and describe the specific watershed Conservation settings and general impacts that the creation of the generation facilities • Maintain or improve the status of species or ecosystems of concern. (i.e. construction of the dams, the development of hydro-power, and alterations in the hydraulic regimes of the systems) had on ecosystems, • Maintain or improve the integrity and productivity of ecosystems and fish, and wildlife habitat. habitats. This addresses the concept of ecosystem integrity, resiliency, and the functional elements of ecosystems, including efforts to Each year, as the FWCP Coastal Board reviews and approves an Annual optimize productive capacity. Operating Plan, alignment with the strategic priorities identified in the Sustainable use Action Plans is of key consideration.

• Maintain or improve opportunities for sustainable use, including All projects approved for F17 align with the Action Plans. The Plans are harvesting and other uses. This objective focuses on our role in posted on fwcp.ca and each year applicants are asked to review the restoring or enhancing the abundance of priority species, and in relevant Action Plan to identify how their proposed project aligns with providing information to resource management decision-makers and supports their objectives. related to providing opportunities for harvesting and other uses. Starting in 2016, the Board initiated a process to update the Coastal Harvesting includes First Nations, recreational, and commercial Watershed Action Plans across 14 watersheds in which we operate. harvests. Other uses may include cultural, medicinal, or non- Activities were initiated in fall 2016, with research, interviews, and consumptive uses such as wildlife-viewing. engagement across a number of Coastal communities continuing in Community engagement winter and spring of 2017. The Watershed Action Plans are scheduled to be completed and posted (fwcp.ca) by September 2017, with the final • Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders and Aboriginal documents being approved by the Policy Committee in the fall 2017. communities. This objective stems from BC Hydro’s social responsibility policy, the provincial Ministry of Environment’s shared stewardship goal, and the approach of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Stewardship and Community Involvement Program. This recognizes the importance of engaging with Aboriginal communities, local stakeholders, and other interest groups to contribute toward making good decisions and delivering effective projects.

FWCP Peace Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 6 4.0 Report on performance

4.1 Results of the 2016-17 grant application intake

2016-17 marked the second year of implementation of the online grant application and management system. The Grant Management System (GMS) has allowed for administrative management efficiencies, more robust data-collection and reporting, and helps automate some of the application review process. A total of 61 applications were received for F17.

4.2 Financial report

FWCP is funded by BC Hydro through a notional fund, which is indexed to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). For F17, the annual funding budget from the notional fund for our Coastal Region was $2.051M.

Each year, our Board allocates funds, in whole or in part, toward fish and wildlife projects, administrative costs (e.g. salaries, safety, Board and Technical Review Committee expenses), project support and communication costs (e.g. Program evaluation, communications support, and advertising). These allocations form the Annual Operating Plan. Any unallocated funds are carried forward (“unspent surplus budget”), and are available for new spending in future fiscal years.

Similarly, not all allocated “committed” funds are expended by the end of a given fiscal year, due to the seasonal nature of some field-based projects. The unspent committed funds (“F16 remaining commitment to spend in F17”) is the difference between the committed funds and what has actually been spent. These funds are carried forward as a liability on the balance sheet and remain available for spending on the respective committed projects to ensure payment in full. All committed funds are associated with the fiscal year in which the spending was approved, and tracked separately.

Our financial situation in the Coastal Region at the start of F17 (April 1, 2016) included a Board-approved budget of $2.1M (Figure 4.1). In addition, a funding commitment of $917K to be spent from F16, and $218K from F15, and an unspent surplus of $24K.

$24,412 $218,340

F17 Approved Budget

F16 Remaining Committed Funds

F15 Remaining Committed Funds

$916,796 Unspent Surplus Budget

$2,096,550

Figure 4.1 FWCP Coastal Region Financial Summary at April 1, 2016

For Fiscal Year 17, the Board approved a budget of $2.1 million, primarily toward fish and wildlife projects. The Board was able to approve slightly more than the Fiscal Year 17 notional funding by drawing on funds from the unspent surplus budget from previous years. Figure 4.2 illustrates the approved Fiscal Year 17 budget at the start of the fiscal year. A complete project list for Fiscal Year 17 is found starting on page 8. Administrative costs made up approximately 8% of the total budget, including regional manager salary & expenses, office-related expenditures (support staff, Board, and Technical Committee costs), fees associated with uploading reports to the Provincial Data Warehouses ($5K), and maintenance, support, and refinements to our Grant Management System. The remaining allocations included wildlife projects (36%), fish projects (34%), land securement projects (19%), and communications (2%).

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 7 200

Fis

Willife 010

02

160 an ecurement

601

Figure 4.2 Approved budget at April 1, 2016

Program expenditures up to fiscal year-end March 31, 2017 are shown in Table 4.1. It should be noted that this reflects a “snapshot” in time of actual and planned payments made related to Fiscal Year 17 projects. Each year, allocated project funding is not fully paid by year-end due to the seasonal nature of field-based projects and the fact that many project proponents are unable to submit their final project reports for approval by the March 31, fiscal year- end. Fiscal Year 17 allocated funds not yet paid by March 31, 2017 are labelled “Planned” in Table 4.1. In mid F17, $125K of x plan was added to the April 1 approved budget of $2.1M to pay for the development of the Action Plans.

In addition, it is not uncommon for projects to come in under budget (“Unspent” in Table 4.1). Any funds not spent during the fiscal year will be carried forward as unspent surplus budget and made available for new project spending in future fiscal years. Over time, as additional projects remaining in the “Planned” category come in under budget, the unspent amount for F17 may increase. In the case of Fiscal Year 17, by March 31, 2017 the approved budget exceeded the available funding by $9,750 (0.5%) as outlined in Table 4.1. As outlined above, projects do come in under budget or alternatively are cancelled for various reasons. The overage was within the Board’s risk tolerance based on the overall implementation plan.

Table 4.1 Actual Budget at March 31, 2017

Fund category FY17 approved budget Paid up to March 31, Planned payments¹ Unspent funds² 2017 Fish $704,392 $371,762 $324,557 $8,073 Wildlife $760,518 $488,372 $272,080 $67 Administration $176,730 $185,911 $5,285 $(14,466) Land Securement $407,710 $19,890 $387,820 $0 Communications $47,200 $47,294 $3,330 $(3,424) TOTAL $2,096,551 $1,113,229 $993,071 $(9,750)

Note¹: Planned payments represent expected invoices for approved, ongoing projects that have not yet submitted final reports by March 31. Note²: Unspent funds are carried forward and available for the next fiscal year.

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 8 4.3 Approved budget allocation by watershed

The approved F17 budget for our Coastal Region included $704,392 on fish projects, $760,518 on wildlife projects, and $407,710 for land securement initiatives, for a total of $1.873 million (89%). These projects were distributed across the watersheds in which we operate, as shown in Figure 4.3. During 2016-17, the FWCP supported projects in 11 of 14 watersheds in the Coastal Region (exceptions include the Ash, Falls River, and Clayton Falls watersheds).

$51,388 $80,099

Alouette-2 projects Puntledge-8 projects

$146,237 Ash-0 projects Jordan-1 project $157,510 $20,000

Cheakamus-2 projects Shuswap-1 project $75,000 Coquitlam-1 project Bridge/Seton-12 projects $434,822 $257,444 Clowhom-1 project Falls River-0 projects

Campbell River-7 projects Stave-2 projects

$187,440 Clayton Falls-0 projects Wahleach-1 project

$4,999 $49,981

Figure 4.3 Projects by watershed

4.4 Strategic Plan accountability

As noted in Section 2.2, alignment with the strategic priorities identified in the Action Plans is a requirement to be eligible for an FWCP grant. It is a key consideration for the Technical Review Committees and Board during the project evaluation and selection process.

During F17, work was initiated to complete the 2nd phase of a Strategic Project Review for projects implemented from 2013 –2016 (Ecofish Research Ltd. 2016). This work built off the phase 1 work implemented in 2014-15 (Ecofish Research Ltd. 2015), where a desktop review was conducted of all FWCP projects implemented between 2010 and 2013. All projects were evaluated, including gauging progress toward achieving Action Plan objectives, assessing updating requirements for Action Plans, and identifying projects for future investment. The report summarizes characteristics of the funded projects and the distribution of funding among watershed and action types, evaluates how well the funded projects achieved the FWCP priority objectives and aligned with Priority Actions, and makes recommendations for improvement. In F17, 84 projects were reviewed, while in F15, 120 projects were reviewed, (Total=204 projects) representing an FWCP project investment of over $10M.

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 9 4.5 F17 projects Table 4.2 Fish project table 2016-17 FWCP Coastal Region application-based projects – fish

# Project ID Project title Watershed Project lead Action Plan Action type FWCP Project outcome² alignment funding1

1 COA- Puntledge Summer Puntledge K’omoks First Puntledge Species- $35,259 Samples from 211 brood year 2015 Summer F17-F-1182 Chinook Parentage- Nation Salmonid Based Chinook adults and 702 naturally-spawned Based Tagging Study: Action Actions juveniles were collected between February Year 3 Plan and July 2016 during outmigration. The natural spawners were estimated to be 59% of the Summer Chinook that emigrated past the hatchery brood collection point in the lower river during 2015. DNA analysis of brood year 2016 hatchery and natural spawners is underway.

2 COA- Alouette Sockeye Adult Alouette Alouette River Alouette Monitoring $16,474 The 2016 Alouette Sockeye Salmon run F17-F-1187 Enumeration Monitor Management Salmonid & Evaluation saw 6 adults returning between July 19 and (Bridging 2016) Society Action August 7, 2016. The Sockeye were sampled Plan before being transported to Alouette Lake. The measurements indicated an average fork length of 60 cm. Adults were aged as four years old, and originated from Alouette stock.

3 COA- Grilse Creek LWD Campbell British Campbell Habitat- $8,311 In June 2016, Routine Effectiveness F17-F-1189 Post-Construction Columbia Salmonid Based Evaluations (REE’s) were conducted on all Maintenance & Conservation Action Actions Large Woody Debris (LWD) sites installed in Monitoring Foundation Plan the summer of 2014. The majority of the sites were performing either as expected even though the overall REE scores had decreased from the 2015 survey. Required maintenance was completed in August of 2016 on two of the three structures.

¹ FWCP funding identified in Table 4.2 may vary from the approved budget as of April 1, 2016, due to project budget increases or decreases as projects progress throughout the fiscal year.

² Final reports for all projects are posted to the appropriate Provincial databases once available. Visit fwcp.ca/search for an updated list of all available final reports.

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 10 2016-17 FWCP Coastal Region application-based projects – fish

# Project ID Project title Watershed Project lead Action Plan Action type FWCP Project outcome² alignment funding1

4 COA- Campbell System Fish Campbell A-Tlegay Campbell Research & $5,000 First Nations habitat restoration priorities were F17-F-1193 Restoration Proposal Fisheries Salmonid Information examined and measured to rank proposed Society Action Acquisition projects with 62 survey respondents. It was Plan determined that most of the high-ranking projects had already been completed leaving a gap in feasible projects. This led us to propose projects of our own and analyse them using the same evaluation matrix. As a result, a restoration project in the Quinsam River was selected.

5 COA- LRISS Aquatic Invasives Bridge-Seton Lillooet Bridge- Research & $18,793 Crews removed 9,502 m2 of Yellow Flag Iris, F17-F-1198 Project Regional Seton Information 451 m2 of Knotweed and 970 m2 of Himalayan Invasive Riparian Acquisition Blackberry along the shores of Seton, Species Wetlands Anderson and Tyaughton Lakes. Based on Society Action monitoring of sites treated last year, the best Plan way to remove Yellow Flag Iris is to dig out and remove all of the roots. A number of outreach methods were used to share information about this project including media, training and community events.

6 COA- Small Woody Debris Puntledge Courtenay and Puntledge Research & $8,503 A habitat enhancement project was F17-F-1199 Restoration in the District Fish Salmonid Information completed in the Puntledge River headpond Puntledge River and Game Action Acquisition in January/February 2016 using recycled Headpond Protective Plan Christmas trees. The SWD installations were Association assessed during five snorkel surveys and minnow trapping. Overall, the sites that were treated with SWD bundles had slightly higher densities of Chinook fry compared to untreated sites. However the total number of fry observed during all surveys was low. Results from marked fry releases and minnow trapping were inconclusive.

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 11 2016-17 FWCP Coastal Region application-based projects – fish

# Project ID Project title Watershed Project lead Action Plan Action type FWCP Project outcome² alignment funding1

7 COA- Assessment of Past Puntledge K’omoks First Puntledge Monitoring $17,579 Coho Salmon was observed spawning in all F17-F-1206 Puntledge River Nation Salmonid & Evaluation side-channels, Chinook were observed in Restoration Projects Action Forbidden and Bull Island, while Chum and Plan Pink Salmon were observed in Powerline. High discharges and poor visibility impeded surveys. Hydraulic sampling methods were employed to evaluate incubation success in Bull Island (99% survival) and Powerline (51% survival). Mark-recapture surveys in the Forbidden and Wong side-channel complex were conducted during unseasonably cool conditions resulting in relatively low population estimates of 0.18 fry/m2 and 0.14 fry/m2 respectively.

8 COA- Assessment of Puntledge Courtenay and Puntledge Research & $18,690 Weekly spawning assessments at 16 potential F17-F-1210 Kokanee Spawning in District Fish Salmonid Information shoreline sites were conducted from October Comox Lake and Game Action Acquisition to November 2016. Over 50 Kokanee were Protective Plan observed spawning and guarding redds Association at a depth of ~ 2.5 m in nearshore habitat at the south east end of Comox Lake on October 31, 2016. Incubation success using buried incubators found was 85.5%. Average intergravel temperature data at the incubation site was 2 degrees warmer than surface water temperature, suggesting possible groundwater sources that may be attracting kokanee spawning to this location. An analysis of historical reservoir elevations was conducted to assess the potential impact to kokanee reproductive success in Comox Lake.

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 12 2016-17 FWCP Coastal Region application-based projects – fish

# Project ID Project title Watershed Project lead Action Plan Action type FWCP Project outcome² alignment funding

9 COA- Elk Falls Canyon Campbell British Campbell Habitat- $58,300 Between August 8 and 12, 2016 F17-F-1218 Spawning Gravel Bulk Columbia Salmonid Based approximately 200 m3 of graded and washed Delivery: Year 1 Conservation Action Actions spawning gravel was delivered into the Elk Foundation Plan Falls Canyon, the largest single gravel project at this site since construction of the John Hart Dam in 1952. Costs per unit to deliver the gravel were approximately 60% less than the previously used helicopter method. The gravel pad produced was used by dozens of adult Chinook, Pink, Chum and Coho salmon in the fall of 2016.

10 COA- Land Securement Puntledge Comox Valley Puntledge Research & $11,016 Baseline studies were conducted in order F17-F-1251 & Reclamation for Project Riparian Information to inform the development of a restoration Puntledge Salmonids Watershed Wetlands Acquisition plan and an associated budget. The Steering Society Action Committee actively worked on various Plan strategies for land securement.

11 COA- Campbell River Campbell Campbell Campbell Habitat- $79,261 The gravel placement project placed 4,300 F17-F-1258 Spawning Gravel River Salmon Salmonid Based metric tonnes of spawning gravel into the Placement: Site 7-IV Foundation Action Actions Campbell River in August 2016. The gravel Plan was placed at Site 7, 300 m downstream of the John Hart Generating Station. Due to large amounts of rainfall, flows in the Campbell River increased to 650 m3/s in November potentially washing away the gravel as the placement design is based on flows up 260 m3/s.

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 13 2016-17 FWCP Coastal Region application-based projects – fish

# Project ID Project title Watershed Project lead Action Plan Action type FWCP Project outcome² alignment funding

12 COA- Seton River Corridor Bridge-Seton Splitrock Bridge- Habitat- $40,000 Report in progress. F17-F-1329 Conservation Environmental Seton based Restoration Project: Salmonid actions Phase 4 Action Plan

13 COA- Upper Squamish River Cheakamus Squamish Cheakamus Habitat- $85,400 This project resulted in restoration of four F17-F-1342 Habitat Restoration River Salmonid Based areas. Culvert upgrades at High Falls and Mile Project Watershed Action Actions 22 Creek improved access into the spawning Society Plan channel and increased flows into the rearing pond. Downstream, 75 m of the roadside watercourse was converted into a 110 m long spawning channel. At Branch 100 Creek the spillway was reconstructed to re-water the 12,000 m2 wetland and improve spawning habitat. Modifications of the Ashlu off-channel habitats saw construction of 4 new spawning channels, riparian planting and the installation of beaver control fencing. These works all provide important improvements to habitat for salmonids as well as other fisheries and wildlife.

14 COA- Dave Marshall Salmon Cheakamus Squamish Cheakamus Habitat- $72,110 Restoration, clean up and upgrade work was F17-F-1343 Reserve Restoration & River Salmonid Based conducted at several sites including Far Point, Upgrades Watershed Action Actions Coho Connector, Birth of a Stream North and Society Plan South, Wountie Channel, Mykiss Channel, Gorbuscha Channel, Eagle Point and Duck Pond. The extension of Kiwi Channel now ties directly into the downstream Evans Creek Re- watering project.

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 14 2016-17 FWCP Coastal Region application-based projects – fish

# Project ID Project title Watershed Project lead Action Plan Action type FWCP Project outcome² alignment funding

15 COA- Survey of Two Puntledge Comox Valley Puntledge Research & $4,490 This project updated field verified ArcGIS and F17-F-1352 Tributary Creeks in Project Salmonid Information Excel SHIM datasets, associated maps, geo- the Courtenay River Watershed Action Acquisition referenced feature photos, and completed Estuary Society Plan drone surveys for Glen-Urquhart and Mallard Creeks to better inform the CVRD committee on the management of the tidal gates and the estuary floodplain and prioritize future restoration planning along these two systems.

16 COA- Apple Springs Bridge-Seton Bridge River Bridge- Monitoring $10,000 Report in progress. F17-F-1354 Effectiveness Indian Band Seton & Evaluation Monitoring Program Salmonid Action Plan

17 COA- Gates Creek Salmonid Bridge-Seton Lillooet Tribal Bridge- Research & $47,000 Abundance and survival estimates for Sockeye F17-F-1360 Habitat and Population Council Seton Information Salmon fry leaving Gates Creek and the Gates Assessments Salmonid Acquisition Creek spawning channel. The results of the Action first open site electrofishing mark-recapture Plan survey for juvenile Coho Salmon, Bull Trout and Rainbow trout, fish density for age 0+ Rainbow Trout, and catch statistics for Coho Salmon and Bull Trout juveniles, were determined.

18 COA- Watershed: Stave Stave Habitat- $71,237 This project restored 606 linear meters F17-F-1371 Restoring Salmon Watersheds Salmonid Based (7,866 m2) newly created instream salmon Habitat Coalition Action Actions habitat and 2,768 m2 of riparian and aquatic Plan planting using 16,294 individual native plants.

19 COA- Coquitlam Sockeye Coquitlam Watershed Coquitlam Species- $20,000 Report in progress. F17-F-1372 Restoration Using Watch Salmon Salmonid Based Hatchery Intervention Society Action Actions Plan

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 15 2016-17 FWCP Coastal Region application-based projects – fish

# Project ID Project title Watershed Project lead Action Plan Action type FWCP Project outcome² alignment funding

20 COA- Design/Work Plans for Jordan Pacheedaht Watershed Research & $49,981 Assessments of bedrock, gravel, salmon F17-F-1379 Gravel Placement in First Nation Plan Information returns, bathymetric surveys and flow rates Jordan River Reach 1 Acquisition provided the data and informed the selection of a pilot spawning gravel site along the right bank of the Jordan River, 100 m downstream of the tailrace. The average surface area of the planned spawning gravel pad is 700 m2. Work plans and material requirements have been developed spawning gravel pad is 700 m2 with a depth of approximately 1 m. Work plans and material requirements have been developed for the habitat restoration at this site.

21 COA- Simms Park Refocus to Puntledge Comox Valley Puntledge Habitat- $5,000 Updated survey work and stakeholder F17-F-1382 Improve Side Channel Project Salmonid Based engagement was undertaken in 2016 to Connectivity: Watershed Action Actions inform a new restoration plan. The updated Society Plan project plan is now more cost effective and maximizes fish, wildlife and community benefits; thereby increasing the chances of it being successfully funded and implemented.

22 COA- Middle Shuswap River Shuswap Yucwmenlucwu Shuswap Research & $4,990 35 side channel access points were surveyed F17-F-1411 Off-Channel Access (Caretakers Salmonid Information and photo-documented in October 2016. Assessment: of the Land) Action Acquisition Overall, there was low to moderate riparian 2007 LLP Plan habitat at surveyed sites. Bank protection works and unrestricted riparian access along the main channel of the MSR were observed throughout the survey as well as poor to good established riparian vegetation. Enhancement recommendations include the addition of cover habitat and opening up access to the inlet at side channel C to increase scour and productivity.

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 16 2016-17 FWCP Coastal Region application-based projects – fish

# Project ID Project title Watershed Project lead Action Plan Action type FWCP Project outcome² alignment funding

23 Directed Supporting the Puntledge Fisheries Puntledge Species- $17,000 The FWCP Coastal Region sets aside funds Project Puntledge River and Oceans Salmonid Based to support the Puntledge River Hatchery’s Hatchery (Summer Canada (DFO) Action Actions summer Chinook production. Chinook production) Plan

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 17 Table 4.3 Wildlife project table 2016-17 FWCP Coastal Region application-based projects – wildlife

# Project ID Project title Watershed Project lead Action Plan Action type FWCP Project outcome² alignment funding

24 COA- Clowhom Watershed Clowhom Halcyon Watershed Habitat- $75,000 Report in progress. F17-W-1181 Species-at-Risk and Professional Plan Based Habitat Surveys: Year 4 Services Actions

25 COA- Monitoring Bear Dens Jordan and Artemis Watershed Habitat- $8,942 Through video-monitoring we have F17-W-1186 in Jordan & Campbell Campbell Wildlife Plan Based documented multiple visits by bears to den River Watersheds Consultants Actions structures, including bears climbing into 5 of our structures. Only one of 18 structures has not documented a bear visit and the number of visits has continued to increase. We also documented the first full entrance by a bear into a den pod in 2016.

26 COA- Vancouver Island Campbell Marmot Campbell Species- $86,630 MRF installed six feeders at Mt. Washington F17-W-1191 Marmot: Buttle Lake Recovery Species Based and two in Strathcona Provincial Park. In total, Supplementation and Foundation Action Actions 17 marmots were released into Strathcona Monitoring 2016 Plan to support seven existing colonies, and an additional nine marmots were released on Mt. Washington. Radiotelemetry was used to monitor survival noting poor survival in Strathcona between 2015 and 2016. Remote cameras and crews were used to observe litters and colonies and it is estimated that there are currently 70-100 marmots living in nine colonies in the Strathcona region.

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 18 2016-17 FWCP Coastal Region application-based projects – wildlife

# Project ID Project title Watershed Project lead Action Plan Action type FWCP Project outcome² alignment funding

27 COA- Species-at-Risk Stave Athene Stave Species- $75,000 Highlights of year 2 include 47 species at F17-W-1207 Conservation in the Ecological Species Based risk observations including Western Toad, Stave River Watershed Action Actions Red-legged Frog, Western Painted Turtle, Plan “Coastal” Western Screech-owl and Great Blue Heron. Monitoring for Pacific Water Shrew and Coastal Tailed Frog was also completed. Confirmed sites were monitored for occupancy, habitats were assessed and Wildlife Habitat Area proposals completed. Restoration activities enhanced habitat at Allan Lake, Worldwide 1, Mill Pond, and Silvermere Lake. Nest boxes for Western Screech-owl were installed.

28 COA- Riparian Habitats and Wahleach South Coast Watershed Research & $51,388 Field inventories detected 10 wildlife species- F17-W-1211 Species-at-Risk in Bat Action Plan Information at-risk, 3 mammal species-at-risk, 3 amphibian Wahleach Watershed Team Acquisition species-at-risk and 4 avian species-at-risk. No Pacific water shrews were detected. Important wetland and habitat areas were identified using aerial photos and spatial reference information. We have identified additional footprint impacts to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife and habitat beyond what is described in the 2011 Wahleach Watershed Plan.

29 COA- Wolverine Inventory Bridge- Ministry of Cheakamus Research & $37,205 Report in progress. F17-W-1217 and Conservation in Seton and Environment Species Information South Coast Mountain Cheakamus Action Acquisition Ranges Plan

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 19 2016-17 FWCP Coastal Region application-based projects – wildlife

# Project ID Project title Watershed Project lead Action Plan Action type FWCP Project outcome² alignment funding

30 COA- Restoring Wildlife Campbell The Nature Campbell Habitat- $11,000 Highlights include surveys for songbirds and F17-W-1221 Habitat: Salmon River Trust of British Riparian Based owls, installation of nest boxes for Western Conservation Area Columbia Wetlands Actions Screech Owls and water quality sampling. This Action project restored 30,000 m2 of upland habitat, Plan enhanced 2763.5 m2 riparian habitat along the Salmon River and improved 55m of linear wetland habitat. Nine species of conservation concern were recorded. Several priority species benefited directly from this habitat enhancement project.

31 COA- Riparian and Wetland Puntledge Ecofish Puntledge Research & $69,904 The project identified that the lower F17-W-1253 Prioritization in Research Riparian Information Puntledge watershed historically supported an Puntledge Watershed Wetlands Acquisition abundance of riparian and wetland habitats. Action Sites with high conservation value included Plan the Cruikshank, Upper and Lower Puntledge, and Browns rivers and Rees Creek. Other field-verified sites with high conservation value included portions of the floodplain of Perseverance Creek, the Morrison Creek headwaters, and other large wetland complexes connected to the Lower Puntledge River and Comox Lake. The conservation priorities identified in this project could guide conservation efforts in the Puntledge watershed.

32 COA- Tailed Frog eDNA Bridge-Seton Hemmera Bridge- Species- $37,720 In August 2016, 72 locations were sampled. F17-W-1286 Assessment in Envirochem Seton Based Tailed frog eDNA was detected in 34 discrete the Bridge/Seton Inc. Species Actions stream reaches at 28 new sites. We also Watersheds Action confirmed a more widespread extant Plan distribution at several previously unconfirmed areas within an apparently isolated metapopulation of tailed frog in the Shulaps drainage and in tributaries along Anderson Lake.

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 20 2016-17 FWCP Coastal Region application-based projects – wildlife

# Project ID Project title Watershed Project lead Action Plan Action type FWCP Project outcome² alignment funding

33 COA- Whitebark Pine Bridge-Seton Lillooet Tribal Bridge- Habitat- $32,196 In the late summer of 2016, we caged and F17-W-1292 Restoration in the Council Seton Based collected cones, surveyed Whitebark Pine St'at'imc Territory Species Actions health plots, surveyed Clark’s Nutcrackers Action and planted Whitebark Pine seedlings grown Plan at Splitrock Nursery in a recent burn site on Porcupine Ridge (Shulaps Range)to support the restoration of Whitebark Pine ecosystems in the Coast Mountains around Lillooet.

34 COA- Restoring Species of Alouette Katzie First Alouette Habitat- $63,625 We combined scientific and traditional F17-W-1295 Conservation and Nation Riparian Based knowledge values to create an Eco-Cultural Cultural Value Wetlands Actions Restoration Plan for Katzie territory. In this first Action year of our multi-year project, we enhanced Plan 1 ha of wetland at two high priority sites along the lower Alouette River for 11 species of conservation concern while also restoring access to plant species of cultural value. We designed marshes to sustain large patches of wapato and tule, so that members of the Katzie and wider community can engage in traditional harvesting of these culturally- valued plants. We also initiated a long term effectiveness monitoring program. Results suggest that our actions to plant shrubs may broaden the suite of bird species able to find breeding resources, and thus is expected to increase bird species richness over the long term.

35 COA- Restoration of Bridge-Seton MFLNRO Bridge- Species- $48,554 Survey effort for spotted owls was conducted F17-W-1314 the Lillooet Sub- Seton Based in the Lillooet portion of the range. Spotted Populations of Spotted Species Actions owl inventories detected an estimated 41 Owls Action barred owls in 13 of the 17 study sites. Twelve Plan barred owls were removed from 5 study sites to enhance and protect habitat for spotted owls.

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 21 2016-17 FWCP Coastal Region application-based projects – wildlife

# Project ID Project title Watershed Project lead Action Plan Action type FWCP Project outcome² alignment funding

36 COA- Northern Spotted Bridge-Seton British Bridge- Species- $49,900 The Northern Spotted Owl is Canada’s most F17-W-1318 Owl Captive Breeding Columbia Seton Based endangered bird; its entire Canadian range Program Conservation Species Actions occurs in the southwestern portion of B.C. Foundation Action Today, the captive population consists of eight Plan captive born (two from the USA), seven wild caught juvenile, (one from the USA), and two of the initial owls captured from the wild. There are currently 17 Northern Spotted Owls at the breeding facility in Langley.

37 COA- Fisher Artificial Bridge-Seton Davis Bridge- Species- $34,625 Monitoring during the reproductive season F17-W-1319 Reproductive Den Box Environmental Seton Based (late March – June) identified four den boxes Study Ltd. Species Actions that were used for reproduction. Three of the Action structures used were in the Bridge Watershed Plan and one was in the Chilcotin. All 4 den boxes were new, bringing the total number of den boxes used to 6 over the 3 denning seasons we have monitored. An average of 2 kits were observed at the den boxes.

38 COA- Powerhouse Foreshore Bridge-Seton Splitrock Bridge- Species- $17,180 Report in progress. F17-W-1341 Restoration Project Environmental Seton Based Maintenance Program Species Actions Action Plan

FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 22 2016-17 FWCP Coastal Region application-based projects – wildlife

# Project ID Project title Watershed Project lead Action Plan Action type FWCP Project outcome² alignment funding

39 COA- Puslumcw (Wet Bridge-Seton Cayoose Creek Bridge- Research & $61,650 We identified, classified and written site F17-W-1356 Ground) Wetland & Indian Band Seton Information specific recommendations for 48 wetland Riparian Survey Riparian Acquisition sites. Wetland survey and amphibian Wetlands workshops trained young technicians from Action the community and results were presented at Plan community gatherings in and around Lillooet. Our results demonstrate that wetlands are scarce, and often highly disturbed in this area and have generated community interest in wetlands, and a collective will to move forward in the conservation and restoration of wetland habitat.

40 Directed Land Securement for TBD TBD TBD Land $307,710 The Coastal Region Board set-aside funding Project Conservation Purposes Securement to contribute to land securement initiatives throughout the region.

41 Directed Gates Creek Bridge-Seton TBD Bridge- Land $100,000 Funding set aside for land management i.e. Project Conservation Property Seton Securement demolition of unoccupied out buildings. (Land Management) Riparian Wetlands Action Plan

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